The LG G Flex raises plenty of eyebrows with its top-to-bottom curve, but there’s much more to this phone than an arching display. One very slick feature is the G Flex’ self-healing back panel, which shrugs off damage like it was the skin on Wolverine’s knuckles.

LG’s test lab strapped the G Flex and a more standard-issue phone into its high-tech scuffing machine — a dastardly little device equipped with a wire brush. For the first run, the machine pressed down with a modest 500 grams of force.

After being briskly brushed for several seconds, the brass bristles are pulled back and you can watch the magic happen.

How does the back cover of the G Flex heal itself? It’s infused with micro-encapsulated resins — similar to the iPhone case Nissan showed off last year. When a light scratch damages the surface, the resins from the surrounding area area released and fill in the newly-formed gap.

It won’t repair every scratch, however. Deeper gouges may not fully heal, and repeated damage to the same area will eventually leave battle scars.

You may have noticed that LG also appears to have lit the two panels differently. The G Flex isn’t under the same harsh spotlight as the other panel, which makes it a little more difficult to tell how much of the scuffing has actually been healed.

If you look closely at the flex test later on — when LG places 8, 16, and 32 kilogram weights on the back of the phone you can see what appears to be scuffing.

Still, the damage is minor… and it’s nowhere near as noticeable as it would be on a run-of-the-mill polycarbonate back. Smartphone owners that hate putting their precious gadgets into protective cases are going to appreciate LG’s use of an innovative material here. Who wouldn’t be excited to see their phone recovering from a bit of everyday abuse — like keys and coins in a pocket or a brush with their psychotic cat’s claws?